Web Hosting Talk : Other Forums : Computers and Peripherals : Need Advice on Laptop Purchase

[Daniel_G]

Hi,

I'm going into my 2nd year of Software Engineering at University, and i've decided that a laptop would be very helpful for a lot of my classes. However, i've never bought a laptop before so I need some help choosing.

Basically, I have my Desktop Computer that i'm on right now that I use for heavy applications such as Gaming and such like.

I need a laptop that can handle basic productivity (i.e. Microsoft Offfice or OpenOffice) and will compile basic Java & C++ programs without screwing up or slowing right down (oh, btw, i'm going to be installing Linux on it, so if you think I can get a laptop cheaper with Linux on it thats fine, otherwise I don't care about the OS i'll just format it...), and a wireless connection is handy but I don't mind using a wireless card.

I do know a good bit about computing, i'm just unsure about what I need to do the above, the price range (in £'s please) and any good reccommendations on where to get one...

Thanks,

Daniel.

[sasha]

http://www1.ca.dell.com/content/prod...DT1&l=en&s=bsd

By the time you customize it , it can get to $2000. All hardware works in linux with some very minor glitches. If I would be in market for another laptop I would get another one of those.

[Konrad4]

I would recommend a Dell.

Are you looking for a small/light laptop?

[Koopa]

Remember he's based in the UK

I'd say Dell, if anything because they're generally cheap.

[Daniel_G]

Yeah I was looking at Dell. I'm not looking for anything that expensive sasha, but i've been through Dell and they seem pretty reasonable...

[LP-Jay]

I'm actually getting a Dell Inspiron 9400, it looks really good. It has a 17" screen and all. If you need that then you can go for it or get the downgrade for something cheaper.

[Daniel_G]

I've actually found some places that are selling the exact same laptops but without Windows, but instead with Linux for like £100-£150 cheaper than their Windows equivalent...

[TheIcy.net]

You could also try teh Sony Vaio range. At work we recently switch to using Sony over Dell because Dell fell behind with the size and weight of their laptops.

But I must give it to Dell, their tech support is the best I have ever used, Sony's is getting better but you have to pay more for it

[dkitchen]

Apple MacBook. They now use Intel CPU's so you can install whatever OS you like.

You'll love it, just like I love mine . Obviously I'm running OSX, if I put Windows on it, it'd be a completely different story.

[Daniel_G]

Yeah but again Sony's and MacBooks are just too overpriced for what I really need them for...

[dkitchen]

In which case try an HP NX6110, they are fantastic notebooks that we use for our Windows network customers, very well priced too (I think they start at around £375 exc, it's been a while since I ordered any).

Dan

[kubel]

440£ ($800) can get you a Presario V3000Z with a Turion64 X2 TL-50 (Dual Core 1.6GHz). It also comes with superior graphics (GF-G 6150) than Intel notebooks (GMA950), and is nicely equipped.

If your budget allows, I would also suggest a Lenovo ThinkPad T60. Has optional x1400 dedicated graphics, its very mobile, and I've heard a ton of great reviews on it.

[Albert_chu]

personally i dont like dell computer..not because theyre bad, but because usually the computer parts they put together to sell arent what im looking for..but dont get me wrong, they do asell cheap stuff. however..if you undertaking software engineering in UNI, id reccomend an ibook laptop...thats what ive been using the past year and ive been doing alot of programming on it aswell as web design.

[Signature]

Originally Posted by daniel_grant

Hi,

I'm going into my 2nd year of Software Engineering at University, and i've decided that a laptop would be very helpful for a lot of my classes. However, i've never bought a laptop before so I need some help choosing.

Basically, I have my Desktop Computer that i'm on right now that I use for heavy applications such as Gaming and such like.

I need a laptop that can handle basic productivity (i.e. Microsoft Offfice or OpenOffice) and will compile basic Java & C++ programs without screwing up or slowing right down (oh, btw, i'm going to be installing Linux on it, so if you think I can get a laptop cheaper with Linux on it thats fine, otherwise I don't care about the OS i'll just format it...), and a wireless connection is handy but I don't mind using a wireless card.

I do know a good bit about computing, i'm just unsure about what I need to do the above, the price range (in £'s please) and any good reccommendations on where to get one...

Thanks,

Daniel.

Hi Daniel,

You can go ahead purchasing according to your budget. However, looking at your application if you have more graphical programming go with more memory which is very "Important". If you are applications are not that graphical go with minimum memory, I think most of the laptops comes with 256MB memory.

Laptops are dominated by Lenovo- IBM Thinkpads but expensive compared to other brands.

Decision is yours " sorry dont know whom to recommend you in Europe for the Best pricing".

-signature

[Daniel_G]

I really like the look of iBooks, I think they look really nice. I've never used Mac OS X, I used a Macintosh when I was in Primary School, 9 years ago but thats it.

But they are really expensive i've noticed...